The Teashop Girls

by Laura Schaefer

  “I’m so glad I didn’t have to beat anyone with my racket to get this figured out,” Zoe said. “I totally would’ve, too.”

  “I know,” I said seriously. “You’re the best, Zo.” I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. We hugged again and Genna got buttons for us. We gathered all the girls in the shop for a solemn reading of the Teashop Girls rules and to ceremoniously pass around the Handbook. The new members were jumping around with excitement. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t shake my melancholy about the fate of the Leaf. Even seeing little Hieu with his mom wasn’t enough to make me forget about it.

  Luckily, Genna and Zo were sticking close to me and it made me feel a lot better. Zoe’s mom and stepdad came over just then.

  “Zoe, it is getting late,” her mom said. “It’s been a lovely party, Annie, but I’m afraid we need to go.”

  “It’s only 8:30,” Zoe said. I was surprised she was so calm. I frowned.

  “You’ll have several important exams next week,” her stepdad said.

  “But it is a Saturday, and I’ve already studied a lot to prepare. I know you guys just want me to do well, but I learned from Louisa, that everyone needs balance. Time with my friends is important to me.”

  Genna and I looked at Zoe in surprise. She never, ever stood up to her parents. Zoe met their eyes levelly. They looked at each other and nodded.

  “All right, dear.” Zoe’s mom said. “I suppose that is reasonable. You may stay until the end of the party, but please come right home then.”

  “I will. Thank you.” Zoe let out a breath as her parents wandered away. I turned to her in amazement.

  “Zoe, that was incredible. I can’t believe they changed their minds.”

  “I know! Me either. I’ve been practicing meditation a lot lately, and it’s actually made dealing with them much easier.” Zoe stood up a little straighter and grinned.

  “Wow,” Genna said, admiringly.

  “They only want what’s best,” Zoe added, “So I just have to show them, sometimes, that I need my own time.”

  Mr. Silverman found me and we clinked our cups, his full of oolong and mine full of chai. He didn’t have a book today, but he did have a broad grin on his face.

  “I hear from your grandmother that you did most of the work putting this party together, Miss Annie. Lovely job. Your grandfather would’ve been very proud of you.”

  “Oh, Louisa did her fair share as well, Mr. Silverman. She’s got more energy than I do!” I corrected.

  “Thirty years … imagine. When this place opened, I could touch my toes.” He looked around, taking it all in. I shook my head in disbelief. Thirty years was indeed a very long time. I thanked Mr. Silverman for coming.

  The party continued at full steam. Louisa put on some jazz and some of the older people taught the teenagers how to jitterbug. The extra chairs got folded up and stored away. Everyone laughed and the little kids jumped up and down. They were naturals. Louisa came up to Mr. Silverman and me. He bowed with a smile and wandered off to find his wife.

  “Look at the little girls.” We turned around to see a trio of six-year-olds carefully pouring tea for someone’s dad. “Aren’t they adorable?” I asked.

  “They are. Little angels, all of them.”

  “They want to be Teashop Girls. Just like us when we were that age.”

  “They sure do. And since you’re taking new members …” Louisa proudly displayed her own pink button. “Count me in.”

  “You can be Tea Empress for Life.”

  “It’s a deal. Now, you have to tell me why you never introduced me to that distinguished gentleman in the corner before. We’ve been having the most lovely chat.”

  “Mr. Arun? Oh, that’s my school principal. I invited him because he was sort of nice about us handing out samples in the cafeteria. Peach ginger is his favorite tea.”

  “He’s quite handsome. And I do think we’ll be seeing more of each other.” I looked at my grandmother in shock. I realized that Louisa and Mr. Arun were probably about the same age. I blushed. It was so embarrassing to think about old people acting all swoony. Thank goodness, however, Louisa hadn’t mentioned any retirement villas in different countries lately. Perhaps a little romance would keep her in Madison forever.

  “Seeing more of each other?”

  “Yes, indeed,” she said with a mischievous grin. “I just wanted to say that I really appreciate all your hard work, dear. Thank you for everything you’ve done.”

  “I wish I could’ve done more. So much more.”

  “About that,” Louisa said with a twinkle in her eye. “I have an announcement to make. Can you get everyone’s attention?”

  “Um, sure.” I looked at Louisa uncertainly. What now? It seemed like it was time for the final farewell, and my heart was heavy. I stopped the music and stepped up to the microphone. I thanked everyone for coming and introduced Louisa.

  My grandmother stepped up to the microphone. She had a big smile on her face and a cup in her hand.

  “Thank you for being here, everyone. What a beautiful evening to come together as friends and neighbors. Thanks again.” She paused. “Some of you may have heard about the Steeping Leaf’s struggles of late. I’m afraid I’m not the savviest businesswoman, though hiring Annie here was certainly a good move.” She paused, and I smiled shyly as everyone’s head swiveled in my direction. “Anyway, I recently made the decision to close the shop, fearing that I could not meet our rent obligations.”

  The crowd gasped. Clearly, not everyone had heard the sad news. Some people started talking excitedly in protest. Louisa silenced them by raising her hand.

  “Wait. Like I said, I planned to close the Steeping Leaf after thirty years of business. But tonight, all that changed. I was introduced to two lovely people, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, developers here in Madison. The Andersons heard about the Steeping Leaf from their son Zach, who is a classmate of my lovely granddaughter.” I gasped as people looked at me again. Louisa gestured to the couple, who I just now noticed were standing near the counter with, of course, their nefarious son. Zach was inching away from them, no doubt to cause trouble. What were they doing here? “Out of a spirit of generosity and nostalgia, the Andersons have decided to do something to help us. They’ve contacted the current property owner and arranged to buy this building.” I looked at Genna and Zoe, who were as puzzled as I was. “I’ve just been informed that they would both like our shop to stay in business … and have decided to generously stabilize our rent. The Steeping Leaf will stay open!”

  The shop erupted in cheers. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson looked embarrassed as various people hugged them. I ran to Louisa and threw my arms around her. I spilled my tea, but I didn’t care.

  “I can’t believe it! This is totally incredible.”

  “I know, Annie. It is incredible. And something tells me that all these new little Teashop Girls are going to keep us very busy. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are now part owners of the business and I think they’ll both be very happy with their investment.”

  I wandered away from Louisa, head in a daze.

  “So now that I’m your new boss, Green, I expect you to smarten up. I’m thinking a hairnet for sure.” Zach stood in my path, looking pleased with himself. I just stuck out my tongue at him and started grinning. I couldn’t help it!

  I rushed over to Gen and Zo to have an official freak-out. We were all too happy about the shop, however, to care very much about Zach. Even if his parents were condo royalty, they recognized the things that would make their developments successful were Madison treasures like the Leaf. Thank goodness.

  “You did it! You saved the shop.” Genna was practically bouncing. “If you hadn’t started working here, Annie, the Andersons never would’ve heard of the store because Zach never would’ve tried the tea or come in here to bother you!” I thought about it. It was a good day. I beamed.

  Zoe and I went outside for a little bit to calm down and look in at the scene. We were giddy from the
dancing and so very happy about our shop.

  “So, I hate to bring this up, but I noticed Jonathan is here and you didn’t even really try to talk to him. Or about him,” Zoe said.

  “Yeah. I sort of just realized the other day we don’t really have that much in common. I mean, he’s still completely gorgeous and everything, but maybe not, like, my One True Love.”

  My rowdy family arrived at the Steeping Leaf at that moment.

  “Are we too late?” my dad asked. “I wore a special shirt!” It said, “Milk and Sugar are for Wimps.” My mom squeezed my arm and wandered off to find Louisa. The boys got busy looking for things to spill, and Beth immediately found a table where she could sit and look cool.

  “Thanks for coming, Dad. Did you hear the good news?”

  “High tea” in England was served late in the day and had hearty dinner foods. It was traditionally served on the main, or high, table of the house to workers who had certainly missed the earlier teatime. Afternoon tea, or “low tea,” was usually served around four o’clock in a sitting room or parlor. These sitting rooms had low tables (like coffee tables today). A full afternoon tea featured savories such as little sandwiches as well as scones with jam and cream and sweets served on china. Today we call this sort of meal “high tea,” even though this is technically not correct. It sounds so nice, though, don’t you agree?

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rains, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all your heart might desire.

  —AN IRISH BLESSING

  annie green’s Reasons Why Life Is Beautiful

  1. Made up with Genna. Yay. She’s taking me to Samadhi Spa with her mom before she leaves for camp. Woo-hoo! (Didn’t make up with her so she’d take me to the spa. The two are unrelated. Really.)

  2. Made more Teashop Girls buttons and special cups for the little girls who came into the Leaf and now it is a full-fledged craze. We had pink T-shirts printed and everything. They have a picture of a teacup with a leaf inside and the Ten Rules of Teashop Girlhood on the back. They treat me like I am a real-life movie star or something. Could def get used to all the adoration.

  3. Business at the Steeping Leaf is excellent. Louisa says she’s never sold so much rooibos in her life. She’s even sold some of Genna’s drawings, too!

  4. It’s summer! Double YES! This means I get to spend all of my time at either the Leaf or in the lake or at the Memorial Union terrace, my second favorite spot on earth! I am going to be so tan by fall. Well, maybe at least my freckles could, like, connect.

  The day before the last day of school, I went into the Steeping Leaf on my day off. I found a table on the patio with three empty chairs and claimed it. Louisa was behind the counter, talking animatedly on the phone to, as she now said, “Davishoney,” like it was one word. I tried not to think about the fact that Louisa was being all lovey-dovey with my principal … but then I wondered if maybe improving my principal’s love life would improve my own grades. I mean, don’t all principals know each other? Surely Mr. Arun could put in a good word for me at Madison West. It was worth looking into.

  To set a good Teashop Girls example, I had decided that we were going to start following all the rules again. From now on, Wednesdays meant teatime.

  Genna arrived. She was leaving for camp in two days, but promised she would always be around for the Teashop Girls first and foremost the second she got back. Her mom was limiting her theater tryouts to local shows and productions, so I knew I wouldn’t have to share my best friend with Hollywood … yet.

  Next, Zoe rolled up on her bike. For once, her tennis racket was not on her back. Her shiny hair was loose, falling in her face. I poured her a cup of healthy green tea and dug out our Handbook. It was definitely time for some new entries.

  Louisa brought a fresh pot of tea and a stacked tower of three plates full of goodies. There were little cakes and mini sandwiches. On top were three petit fours, one for each founding Teashop Girl. We dug in. At the next table over, three younger girls were doing the same.

  It seemed there were Teashop Girls just about everywhere, friends who would see me through anything, whether it was finally giving up on a hopeless crush or saving a special place so other people could discover it. It was summer, and I knew it would be a great one.

  About the Author

  Laura Schaefer has been writing almost as long as she’s been making tea. She got her start as a contributor to the University of Wisconsin’s student paper the Daily Cardinal and went on to write regularly for the Princeton Review and Match.com. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin, where she can usually be found dancing the lindy hop. Her favorite type of tea is English Breakfast with lots of milk and sugar. Visit her online at teashopgirls.com.

  Dear Honorary Teashop girl,

  One of my favorite things to do is to have a tea party! It’s such a completely fun way to spend time with your BFFs, and if you’re going to follow the official rules of the Teashop Girls and meet for tea every week, you should make it special.

  anyone can throw a good tea party, and once you do, you’ll want to have them all the time. First, pick a theme. Follow the Teashop Girls Tea Party Checklist to prepare for your party. Then, take a look at some of the delicious recipes I’ve made over the years with Louisa. Maybe you can make a few of them with your friends. Finally, try some of the Tea Party Games for the big day. I guarantee you’ll have an excellent time. Don’t forget the tea!

  Love,

  annie

  Tea Party Themes

  The first thing you need for an extra-fun tea party is a unique theme. Louisa is really good at choosing these. Over the years she’s thrown many different kinds of parties, from a Traditional High Tea at the plaza Hotel to a Japanese Tea, and even a Mother-Daughter Book Club Tea. Here are some tips for throwing a few of my favorite parties …

  * * *

  Tea by the Sea

  There’s no sea in Wisconsin, so I bring the ocean to my tea party with shells from Louisa’s travels, a little sand, and some calypso music. It’s really fun, especially in winter. You can also set out a colorful beach ball, a beach umbrella, and napkins in bright, beachy colors. Finally, plan to serve your teas iced, and give each guest one of those fun little drink umbrellas.

  Diva Tea

  This party is all about glamour. It’s Genna’s favorite. For this party every guest is a movie star. Get some silver or gold wrapping paper and cut out place mats from it. Next, set out red napkins and make a sign that says ACTION! Use a roll of red wrapping paper to make a “red carpet” from the door to your table. If your parents allow it, replace some of the regular lightbulbs in the room with blue, green, and red bulbs, so it looks like a movie set. Ask all your guests to wear sunglasses to tea and take plenty of pictures for your fans! Be sure to get everyone’s autograph during the party.

  Japanese Tea

  This tea theme is all about simple decorations and minimal fuss. If you have a low table in the house, plan to have your tea there. Set out pillows for your guests to sit on. For a centerpiece, put out a beautiful plant like a bamboo, orchid, or single flower from the garden (remember to ask before you cut one!). Get some wooden chopsticks from your local take-out restaurant and give a set to each guest to use, or twist in her hair. For napkins, choose neutral colors like brown, green, or cream. Serve green tea and play quiet, meditative music in the background.

  Mother-Daughter Book Club Tea

  For this tea party make your table look like a cozy library. Ask if you can borrow some thick books from your parents or neighbors and set them out as a tea table centerpiece. Make sure you have enough chairs for everyone and decorate by cutting out large and small block letters and setting them around the table. In the invitation, ask the guests to come dressed as their favorite book character.

  Annie Green’s Tea Party Checklist

  Two weeks before: Make your invites and send them out. You can use the one I
’ve made here as a model, but think like Genna and add your own special touch. Glue on something sparkly or add a ribbon!

  One week before: Think about what room you’ll have the party and start planning decorations. You’ll want to gather what you’ll need from neighborhood rummage sales, dollar stores, or from the depths of your own closets. Next, decide what games or activities you’ll have and make sure you have the necessary supplies.

  The morning of the party: Set the table and do your decorating. Choose some fun music to play, and make sure you ask your mom or dad or older sibling to take a few pictures for you. Don’t forget to set out:

  • a selection of teas so your guests have a choice …

  (English Breakfast is a must for me and I like to have peppermint and lemon for Zoe and Genna)

  • teapot and cups

  • sugar (fancy lumps or cubes are the coolest)

  • milk or cream

  • scones with jam

  • tea sandwiches

  • dessert-type treats, like cupcakes, chocolates, or cookies … mmm.

  You’re Invited

  To: A Tea & Treats party

  Hosted by:

  Date:

  Time:

  Location:

  RSVP by:

  Dress in your teatime best!

  Can’t wait to see you there...

  These are some of my favorite tea party games!

  GUESS THE TEA Have each girl bring a different flavor of tea to the party. Brew all the tea and put them into cups. Each girl must taste each one and try to guess the flavor. At the end, go around the circle and see what everyone’s favorite flavor was!

  It’s hard to beat me at Guess the Tea, but since new varieties are coming out all the time, this is one of my favorites! Plus, the extra tea bags make great party favors!